Socket and connector means



March 13, 1962 .1. H. HOPKINS SOCKET AND CONNECTOR MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1960 IN V EN TOR. Joseph H. Hopkins His Aflornev 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 13, 1962 J. H. HOPKINS socxm AND CONNECTOR MEANS Filed Jan. 8, 1960 March 13, 1962 J. H. HOPKINS 3,025,491

SOCKET AND CONNECTOR MEANS Filed Jan. 8, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Joseph H. Hopkins BY aired Eta-res Fatent Gi l-ice 3,@Z5,49l Patented Mar. 13, 1952 3,025,491 SOQKET AND CONNEETOR MEANS Joseph H. Hopkins, Warren, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 1,293 6 Claims. (Cl. 339-176) This invention relates to multi-terminal connector and socket means, and particularly, to a pair of insulating bodies having complementary terminal and socket means therein.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved multi-terminal connector and socket means involving a minimum number of parts economical to produce and adapted to require minimum mounting space relative to an apertured mounting panel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination plug, terminal and socket assembly including a pair of mating insulating bodies one of which is socketlike and has a longitudinally and laterally open cavity in which a lamp bulb support is provided with metal portions insulated from each other and separately engageable by complementary contact portions of a Q-shaped end of one terminal and a bifurcated end of another terminal maintained in a predetermined spaced relation to the first terminal by the second plug-like insulating body having a pair of longitudinally extending undercut slots therein to carry the terminals separated from each other by an intermediate wall portion or partition extended adjacent to one end by a bifurcated portion of insulating material also adapted to complement and engage the lamp bulb support inside the socket-like insulating body.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pair of terminal means adapted to be held in spaced relation substantially parallel to each other and having wire-connecting as well as laterally-slotted mounting portions along adjacent ends while opposite ends differ in that one has a bifurcated contact portion open centrally thereof at a location in axial alignment with a transverse C-shaped contact portion adapted to establish electrical engagement with a lamp-shell base including metal portions insulated from each other.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pluglike insulating body having a pair of longitudinally extending under-cut slots for mounting a pair of electrical terminals on opposite sides of an intermediate wall portion or partition that is extended adjacent to one end into a bifurcated portion of insulating material also adapted to complement laterally one of the terminals to be mounted relative thereto.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination plug, terminal and socket assembly including a pair of mating insulating bodies one of which is socketlike and includes a main hollow portion adapted to receive a lamp-bulb-base-rnounting metal sleeve spaced concentrically outwardly from a central contact for the lamp bulb base which is laterally exposed together with a portion of the metal sleeve as well as a lateral flange portion of insulating material integral with the main hollow portion and adapted to fit in locking engagement with a peripheral edge of an aperture in a mounting panel such as a side wall of a refrigerator cabinet, a vehicle body interior panel, an appliance housing and the like through which electrical connection is made using a plug-like insulating housing having a pair of under-cut recesses or slots adapted to receive a pair of terminal means insulated from each other by an intermediate wall portion or partition of the insulating housing that includes a bifurcated extension longitudinally to one side of the partition and adapted to engage one side of a peripheral groove or neck portion of the metal sleeve that is electrically connected by a bifurcated end portion of one of the terminal means while adjacent thereto on an opposite side of the bifurcated extension of the insulating housing there is a C-shaped contact portion of the other terminal means adapted to contact electrically the central contact for the lamp bulb base, the plug-like housing fitting at least in part into the lateral opening surrounded by the flange portion of the one insulating body.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a partially-sectioned side view of an assembly in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 1A is an end view of a socket-like body of the assembly of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 1-8 is a plan view of a socket portion inside the assembly of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the assembly of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an end view of a plug-like housing for use in the assembly of FIGURES l and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the housing of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is another end view of the housing of FIGURES 2 and 3.

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view partly in cross section taken along line 66 in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of one terminal means for the housing of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 8-A is a side view of the terminal means of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of another terminal means for use in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a socket and connector means assembly in accordance with the present invention including a pair of mating insulating bodies generally indicated by numerals it) and 12 respectively. Each of these bodies can be formed or molded of nylon, Teflon, Bakelite or some other suitable plastic as Well as rubber-like elastomeric material. The insulating body 10 includes a main hollow body portion 10b having a cavity liic therein longitudinally open at one end tile and having a shoulder 10s provided adjacent to an opposite end thereof. A lamp bulb l3 outlined in FIGURE 1 is adapted to have a base portion inserted through the open end We relative to a lamp-bulb-base-mounting metal sleeve or support means generally indicated by numeral 14- adapted to fit into the cavity of insulating body 10. The sleeve 14 is substantially cylindrical and includes a threaded portion 14! electrically engaged by complementary threads on a metal base of lamp bulb 13. The metal sleeve 14 further in cludes a reduced diameter groove or neck portion 1411 as well as a radially larger flange portion 14f. The metal sleeve 14 can be threaded or press-fitted into engagement with an inner peripheral surface 16p defining part of the cavity the in the insulating body 10.

On end view of the annular or cylindrical sleeve 14- is shown in FIGURE 1-B wherein there is: a showing of an annular washer or insulating portion Mi held or crimped into position at a location radially inside the flange portion 14 and having a central aperture in which a button or lamp contact is mounted in predetermined spaced relation to neck portion 1411 and the threaded portion Hit of sleeve 14. The purpose of the groove or neck portion 1411 as Well as flange 14 and the central lamp contact such as 140 will become apparent from the following description in accordance with the present invention.

Integral with and extending laterally from the main hollow body portion 10b of the insulating body 10, there is a side flange portion 10 of insulating material surrounding a side opening or aperture 1011 into which the second insulating body 12 fits in mating relationship thereto. The flange portion 10 includes a peripheral groove 10g adapted to fit a peripheral edge of an aperture in a mounting panel outlined in FIGURE 2 and identified by reference numeral 14m. It is noted that the flange portion 10 can have a round, square as well as rectangular configuration and the latter is illustrated in a plan View of the insulating body 10 alone as seen in FIGURE lA. The aperture 10a as seen in FIGURE l-A is T- shaped and is located substantially in lateral alignment with the shoulder portion 10s referred to earlier. Adjacent to the end of cavity 100 and shoulder 16s there is an auxiliary chamber or curved recess portion 1dr visible in both views of FIGURES l and 1-A.

The second insulating body 12 is illustrated in mating relationship with the first insulating body 10 in views of FIGURES l and 2. FIGURE 2 is taken looking into chamber 100 from the open end 102. First and second terminal means generally indicated by numerals 16 and 18 are partially visible in the assembly of FIGURE 1. An outline of the first terminal means 16 is also provided in FIGURE 2. FIGURE 3 is an end view of the second insulating body 12 alone as seen from a position outside the assembly of FIGURES 1 and 2. The second insulating body 12 has a T-shaped configuration and extends substantially parallel and longitudinally relative to the firstand second terminal means 16 and 18. The second insulating body 12 includes a relatively larger body portion 12L joined by an integral intermediate wall or partition 12w relative to a smaller body portion 12s. First terminal means 16 is adapted to fit in locking relation to an inner peripheral surface of a pair of under-cut grooves or slots 12g extending laterally outwardly from a laterally open and longitudinally extending passage 12p. One groove 12g has a projection or laterally inwardly extending abutment 12a provided therein for engagement by the first terminal means 16 for positioning thereof in accordance with the present invention. Similarly, the smaller body portion 12s also includes under-cut grooves or slots 18g extending laterally outwardly from a laterally open passage or recess 12;- extending longitudinally relative to the second insulating body 12. A notch or cutout portion Mn is provided adjacent to the passage or recess 12r to accommodate a portion of second terminal means 18. The second terminal means 18 is adapted to lit in locked relationship relative to the grooves 18g and to abut against an inwardly projecting stop or abutment shoulder 18a visible in FIGURES 3 and 5. FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the second insulating body 12 taken alone and FIGURE 5 is an end view of structure of the insulating body 12 including an extension 12a of insulating material terminating in bifurcated longitudinally parallel portions 12b on opposite sides of a slot or cutout 120. One end of the extension 12a is integral with the intermediate wall or partition 12w at an offset juncture 12 visible in FIGURES 4 and 6. Passages 12p and 121' are open longitudinally and laterally in opposite directions so as to facilitate insertion of first and second terminal means relative to the under-cut grooves in spite of the fact that the terminal means have been previously secured or crimped relative to conductor metal 19m having an insulating covering 119i as part of wiring or conductors generally indicated by numeral 1S in FIGURES 1 and 2. As seen in view of FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, the second insulating body 12 includes a pair of integral longitudinally projecting triangular flanges located in pairs adjacent to grooves 12g and indicated by reference numeral 122. These triangular portions 122? engage one side of the first terminal means 16 relative to tabs 16t extending laterally in opposite directions from a mounting or body portion 16m of the terminal means visible in FIGURES 2 and 9. The terminal means 16 further in cludes a ferrule or wire connecting portion 16w integral at one end with the mounting portion 16m. The wire connecting portion includes first and second pairs 16 and 16s of tabs adapted to be crimped relative to metal conductor 19m and insulation 191' respectively as visible in FIGURE 2. The first terminal means 16 further includes an extension 16e integral with separate bifurcated portions 16b located on opposite sides of a cut-out 16c that extends and terminates in a recess 16; substantially intermediate the tabs Mr and longitudinally or axially in alignment with the mounting portion 16m and wire connecting portion 16w for establishing electrical connection between the wires such as 19 and a larnp-bulbbase sleeve and contact such as provided relative to the neck portion or groove 1421 complementary to an inner periphery of the bifurcated portion 16b of first terminal means 16. The mating relationship of the terminal means 16 along the bifurcated portion 16b is indicated in the views of FIGURES l and 2. The bifurcated end portion of the terminal means 16 is made more resilient by the recess 161' such that the ends 16b are resiliently deflectable to engage a periphery of the neck portion 1411. Terminal 16 in FIGURE 9 is illustrated as a blank and it is to be understood that the Wire connecting portion is bent in a manner similar to that illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 8-A. The second terminal means generally indicated by numeral 18 can be fitted relative to grooves 18g of the second insulating body 12. A wire or conductor is secured to conductor receiving portion 18w including first side Wings 18] as well as second side wings 18s adapted to be crimped into engagement with the metal conductor and insulated portion of the wires. The second terminal means 18 includes a main or mounting body portion 18m integral with a pair of laterally outwardly extending tabs 18t provided for stability and engagement of the abutment or stop 18a as well as the grooves 18g. Integral with the mounting portion 18m, there is an extension 18e extending longitudinally in alignment with the wire connecting portion 18w and mounting portion 18m. The extension 18c terminates in a C-shaped contact portion 180 adapted to engage the lamp contact such as 140. The electrical engagement of both terminal means 16 and 18 can be best seen in FIGURE 1 which represents the assembly of components in accordance with the present invention. Each of the mounting portions 16m and 18m of the terminal means includes a longitudinally and laterally extending resilient prong 19p formed integral at one end with the mounting portion and defined by a slot 19 having an entry or open end 1% along one side or edge of the mounting portions in a location to one side of the wire connecting portions of each of the terminal means. The resilient prong is yieldable relative to the mounting portion and a sharp end 19s is adapted to serve as a barb that digs into a side surface of one of the grooves such as 18g or 12g in the second insulating body 12, for example.

It is to be noted that, in FIGURE 1, the lamp contact is located substantially coplanar with the bifurcated end 12e and legs 1% integral with the second insulating body 12. This bifurcated extension 122 serves to align the second insulating body 12 relative to the aperture 10a and the recess 1this sufiiciently large to permit flexing of the C-shaped contact end of the second terminal means 13. The first and second terminal means can easily inserted together with the second insulating body 12 relative to the aperture 10a for establishing electrical engagement of the lamp-bulbbase-connecting sleeve and a lamp contact. It is to be understood that the surface portions of the integral flange 10f surrounding the aperture 10a are in sealing engagement with an outer peripheral portion of the larger section 12L as well as the smaller section 12s of the second insulating body 12. Thus, as the groove arrangement 10g provided in the flange portion 10 engages a periphery of an aperture in a mounting panel 14m, only the main hollow portion or body of insulating material 1% relative to which the lamp bulb 13 is inserted projects into a chamber or space such as inside a motor vehicle, inside a refrigerator cabinet, inside a deep freeze unit, or other appliance wherein internal illumination is to be provided. A suitable onoff switch can be provided adjacent to a closure member or door for the cabinet such that the light is energized by a circuit in series with such a switch whenever opening and closing of the door is to coincide with lamp bulb energization. It is to be understood that any other manual switch can also be provided for opera-ting and energizing the lamp bulb 13. Also, it is to be understood that the passages 12 and 12r can be made to be closed laterally rather than open and then the passages will extend only longitudinally relative to the second insulating body 12 having the central partition or wall 12w.

Among the advantages of the assembly in accordance with the present invention are the following. The insulating body 12 together with a pair of terminal means therein can be easily connected and disconnected along with electrical wires relative to a molded lamp socket directly relative to a lamp shell and center lamp contact. It is possible to take advantage of the neck or groove 14n formed as the flange 14] is crimped relative to an insulating washer 14i for the purpose of permitting electrical engagement of the bifurcated end of terminal means 16 relative to the metal shell 14. In eifect, the second insulating body 12 together with the terminal means forms a plug-like means adapted to be fitted into mating engagement with the first insulating body including the lamp socket structure. There is no fastening by welding, brazing, soldering, or crimping of parts to the lamp shell 14 and center lamp contact such that difficulty in assembly is avoided and a minimum number of parts are required at a minimum cost for establishing electrical connection relative to a lamp bulb.

It is to be understood that the sleeve 14 could be modified to accommodate other lamp bulb base structures such as bayonet fastening means on an unt-hreaded base, spring-biased so as to urge bayonet lugs into locking engagement with J-sh-aped slots. The T-shaped configuration of aperture 10a is adapted to provide polarization of terminals in body 12 relative to the sleeve 14 and it is to be noted that diamond or elliptical shapes as well as rounded, square, or rectangular configurations and the like can be used, as suitable. Also for the terminal means 16 and 18, it is to be understood that tabs 162. and 1815 can abut against an end of body 12 so as to locate the terminal means by engagement with an outer portion of the insulating material in alignment with grooves therein. Sharp end 19s of prong 19p can locate the terminal means further relative to an internal shoulder such as 12a or 18a in addition to digging into a side surface of the body along the grooves.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A combination plug, terminal and socket assembly, comprising a pair of mating insulating bodies one of which is socket-like and has a longitudinally and laterally outwardly open cavity, a metal lamp support means fitted into the cavity so as to have a central lamp contact located generally radially inwardly adjacent to one end thereof, a groove portion formed adjacent to the lamp contact end of said lamp support means, a pair of terminals individually engageable electrically relative to said groove portion and the central lamp contact, and passage-forming means included with the second of said pair of mating insulating bodies for mounting of said terminals thereto.

2. A combination plug, terminal and socket assembly for use relative to a lamp-bulb base, comprising, a pair of mating insulating bodies one of which is socket-like and includes a main hollow portion, a lamp-bulb-basemounting metal sleeve spaced concentrically outwardly from a central contact for the lamp-bulb base and which is laterally exposed in part by a side aperture, a mounting flange portion integral with said main hollow portion and surrounding the side aperture, the other of said mating insulating bodies having a pair of longiu'tdinally extending passages separated by an intermediate wall such that one end thereof is plug-like to fit into mating engagement relative to the side aperture, and a pair of terminal means mounted in said passages and having free ends projecting therefrom to engage said metal sleeve and the lamp contact.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said terminal means are locked into lateral grooves of the passages and wherein one of said terminal means has a bifurcated end portion to complement and engage a groove of said metal sleeve while the other of said terminal means has a C- shaped end portion to engage the lamp contact.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said intermediate wall has a bifurcated extension adapted to straddle the lamp contact so as to separate and insulate one terminal means from the other maintained in substantially parallel relationship to each other for transversely engaging said metal sleeve and the lamp contact.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said passageforming means are substantially T-shaped to complement the laterally outwardly open portion of the cavity into which said terminals are fitted for electrical engagement relative to said lamp support means.

6. A plug-like insulating body for use in a plug, terminal and socket assembly including an annular lampbase contact means, comprising, a longitudinally extending central partition to separate a pair of substantially parallel opposite axially and laterally open passages, a bifurcated extension longitudinally in alignment with said partition at one end thereof and joined integrally therewith, and passage-forming means including undercut grooves for mounting of terminal means longitudinally therein, said bifurcated extension as well as terminal ends separated thereby from each other being adapted to be plugged laterally into a lamp socket which surrounds the passages at least in part though the passages permit prior fitting of terminal means thereto due to being axially and laterally open to facilitate terminal access.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 909,326 Patterson et al. Jan. 12, 1909 990,420 Benjamin Apr. 25, 1911 1,123,002 Platt Dec. 29, 1914 1,198,074 Sines Sept. 12, 1916 2,392,438 Wade Jan. 8, 1946 2,633,483 Hafke Mar. 31, 1953 2,793,354 Heimbach May 21, 1957 2,825,038 Woofter Feb. 25, 1958 2,989,723 Hopkins et a1 June 20, 1961 

